Minneapolis Connects April Newsletter

City of Minneapolis sent this bulletin at 04/11/2019 08:30 AM CDT

April 11, 2019

Neighborhoods 2020 Next Steps

The Neighborhood and Community Relations Department (NCR) thanks hundreds of residents, community leaders and neighborhood organization board members and staff for their time and dedication to reviewing, discussing and commenting on The Neighborhoods 2020 Framework Recommendations, a policy document that outlines recommendations on what role the neighborhood organization system and NCR should play in meeting the needs of our growing city starting in 2020.

NCR gathered the recommendations from two years of community meetings, with input from three work groups, and over 300 public comments on The Neighborhoods 2020 Framework Recommendations. NCR staff attended a total of 40 community and board meetings, reaching over 1,000 people during this comment period.

For the next phase, NCR has assembled a team to compile public comments and identify the common themes within them. The comment review team has representatives from the City’s Division of Race and Equity, philanthropy, neighborhoods, community and NCR staff. The team's summary, along with the original comments, will be released in late April, and any resulting changes to the framework will likely be published by the end of April as well.

Join a City board or commission

Board and commission members provide valuable insights, help shape key policy decisions and provide community-based input into the design and administration of City services.

You can apply through the open position pages linked below and stay up to date on vacancies, position descriptions and timelines by visiting minneapolismn.gov/boards/openings. The positions are open until filled.

Census complete count campaign kicks off: We Count

The yearlong 2020 Census complete count campaign has kicked off. We Count Minneapolis will promote awareness and participation in the 2020 Census. The goal is to ensure everyone is counted and fairly represented, regardless of immigration status, age or income level.

Getting a fair and accurate count in the 2020 Census is a major focus of the City of Minneapolis, which is the only municipality in Minnesota to dedicate funds toward the effort. Reaching historically undercounted communities will be a priority.

Around 50 community members gathered to kick off the We Count Minneapolis campaign, share ideas and make connections.

City Council approves vision, mission and values as part of City’s Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan

The City Council has approved the City’s vision, mission and values as part of the Strategic and Racial Equity Action planning process — a framework that will set the direction for the future of the City and ensure the implementation of racial equity goals.

The Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan is a four-year plan that will embed racial equity principles into all aspects of the City’s work, aligning work from City leadership to departments and defining goals at all planning levels that can be objectively measured and inform resource decisions. The council is expected to vote on a final version of the plan in June.

On March 15, community partners from the Southeast Asian community gathered to talk about the development of the City's Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan (SREAP) and Transportation Action Plan (TAP).

Community members brought up needs for ample residential parking for large family cultural ceremonies, expanding housing to accommodate large families, including public safety as a factor in each plan, removing barriers to small business development, and more Southeast Asian officers and a Southeast Asian community navigator in the Police Department.

At the Waite House in South Minneapolis, 20 community members joined NCR and staff from the City Coordinator's Office and the Department of Public Works on March 19 for a discussion on SREAP and TAP as well.

Community members gave their input on the goals of each action plan and discussed their priorities and concerns. Both departments are planning to report back on how the communities' input was used in each action plan.

Northside Housing Fair a resounding success

On March 23, several hundreds gathered and dozens (including NCR) tabled at Lucy Craft Laney at the Northside Housing Fair. Sponsored by the Cleveland Neighborhood Association, the Housing Fair also included workshops and a discussion about Neighborhoods 2020, and drew attendees from throughout the city.

Senior Community Services HOME Program needs people to mow lawns for seniors in your community.

Senior Community Services is a City of Minneapolis partner organization, and its HOME Program mows lawns for seniors in Hennepin County. The HOME Program is seeking helpers to mow lawns every 7-10 days and use a weed whip once a month for $16 per hour.

Mowers must supply their own lawn mower and weed whip and set their own schedule.

Join in the Earth Day cleanup and 5K run & walk

The 2019 Earth Day cleanup and 5K run and walk are Saturday, April 20. Neighbors, businesses and volunteer organizations come together for a common purpose: stewardship of our City’s parks, neighborhoods and watersheds. Volunteers pick up trash and help clean up at several sites around Minneapolis.

To learn more about the cleanup events or join in, call 612-230-6479 or visit the MPRB's website and click on “Get Involved.”

2019 collection of leaves and bundled brush begins week of April 8

The 2019 season for Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling collection of leaves, brush and other yard trimmings starts the week of April 8. Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curbs next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on garbage day.

For questions about leaf and brush pickup, customers can call Solid Waste & Recycling at 612-673-2917 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Report from 2019 Community Connections Conference Published

NCR is proud to release this year's conference report, which details the record setting attendance, neighborhood participation and other highlights from the 2019 Community Connections Conference. Read the 2019 Community Connections Conference Report here...

This year, we had 884 attendees and 20 neighborhood organizations participating, either in the neighborhood showcase or presenting their work as part of the "Awesome Neighborhoods" workshop. This year's conference attendees also reflected city demographics, with 40% of attendees identifying as people of color.

Watch this short video on how the City geared up for the Final Four, applications are open for Upper Harbor Terminal Community Planning and Engagement Committee, and the City is seeking feedback on its Transportation Action Plan.

Minneapolis Connects is published by the City of Minneapolis Neighborhood and Community Relations department (NCR). If you have stories or community events that should be included in next month's edition, email rebekah.tedrick-moutz@minneapolismn.gov.

For questions, accommodations or alternative formats, please contact Neighborhood and Community Relations at 612-673-3737 or email us at ncr@minneapolismn.gov. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 agents at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.